DoI Official Forms: An Overview

DoI official forms are the prescribed application, registration, and renewal documents that the Department of Industry in Nepal requires under the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965. Whether you are filing a trademark, patent, or industrial design, getting the correct Schedule form right from the start avoids costly office actions and months of delay.

Key Takeaways

• The Department of Industry uses specific Schedule forms under the PDTA 1965 — not generic templates — for every IP right.
• A trademark application requires a Schedule 1(c) form with four specimens of the mark; the certificate is issued on a Schedule 2(c) form.
• Every filing, including for a Nepali company, needs a notarised Power of Attorney signed by the applicant and attested by two witnesses.
• Patent and design filings each have their own distinct Schedule forms — you cannot reuse a trademark form for a design.
• Incomplete or incorrectly witnessed forms are the single biggest cause of DoI examination delays in practice.
• IP Sewa's team can help you assemble and review the right forms for your filing — reach out here.

What exactly are DoI official forms in Nepal?

The Department of Industry prescribes specific application and registration forms — called Schedule forms — under the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965. These are not downloadable blank templates you fill in freely. Each form corresponds to a particular IP right and stage: a Schedule 1(c) for a trademark application, a Schedule 2(c) for the registration certificate, and separate numbered Schedules for patents and industrial designs. You must submit the correct form with the right supporting documents, or the DoI examination will stall.

Why do the right Schedule forms matter so much?

Nepal is a first-to-file jurisdiction: rights belong to whoever files a valid application first, not whoever used the mark first. A form rejected for a missing notarisation or wrong Schedule number resets your priority date. In practice, the DoI does not send a reminder asking you to fix a paperwork defect — it simply does not move the file forward. Using the correct DoI official forms on day one protects your filing date and keeps your application moving through examination, publication in the Industrial Property Bulletin, and the 90-day opposition window without unnecessary delay.

Which DoI forms apply to which IP right?

The PDTA 1965 structures its forms around three distinct rights, and you cannot substitute one for another. Below is the form map most applicants encounter.

One detail that surprises many first-time filers: a single trademark application under Schedule 1(c) covers exactly one NICE class. If your brand spans clothing (Class 25) and retail services (Class 35), you need two separate Schedule 1(c) applications. Use our NICE class finder tool to map your goods and services before you start the paperwork.

What documents must accompany the DoI official forms?

Every DoI filing — trademark, patent, or design — needs more than just the Schedule form itself. The core document bundle for a domestic trademark application includes the Schedule 1(c) form, a notarised Power of Attorney signed by the applicant and attested by two witnesses, a board resolution of the company, the mark label, and a certificate of industry along with the latest tax clearance letter. For a foreign applicant, you also need a notarised copy of the home registration certificate in English. Patent and design filings add the technical specification, claims, abstract, and drawings — each with its own format requirements. A common mistake we see is a Power of Attorney signed by only one witness; the DoI expects two.

How do you complete and file the trademark Schedule 1(c) form?

The Schedule 1(c) is the most commonly used DoI official form. Here is the process you will follow:

1. Identify your NICE class. One application per class. Run a trademark database search first to check for conflicting marks.
2. Prepare the Schedule 1(c) form. Fill in applicant details, the mark representation, and the class number. Attach four identical specimens of the mark.
3. Notarise the Power of Attorney. The PoA must be signed by the applicant, sealed, and attested by two witnesses. This is the form that trips up the most applications.
4. Attach the board resolution. If the applicant is a company, a board resolution authorising the trademark filing is mandatory.
5. Submit the industry certificate and tax clearance. The DoI wants to see that the applicant is a registered business in good standing.
6. Lodge the complete file at the DoI. Pay the application fee. You will receive an acknowledgment with a filing number.
7. Monitor the Industrial Property Bulletin. Once examined and accepted, your mark is published. The 90-day opposition clock starts then.

Can foreign applicants file DoI official forms directly?

No. Nepal is not a member of the Madrid System or the Patent Cooperation Treaty. A foreign applicant cannot file a Schedule form directly with the DoI. You must appoint a Nepal-based agent or representative who holds a valid Power of Attorney. The agent submits the forms on your behalf and handles correspondence with the DoI. This is not optional — the DoI will not process a direct filing from an overseas entity. If you are filing from abroad, our team can act as your local representative — get in touch and we will walk you through the PoA requirements for your jurisdiction.

What are the most common mistakes with DoI official forms?

After seeing hundreds of filings, a handful of errors come up again and again. The biggest one: a Power of Attorney with only one witness signature when the DoI expects two. Close behind is selecting the wrong NICE class on the Schedule 1(c) — you cannot change it later without filing a fresh application. Other recurring problems include forgetting the board resolution for a company applicant, submitting fewer than four mark specimens, and using an expired industry certificate. If you want a second pair of eyes on your forms before they go to Tripureshwor, try our trademark conflict checker and use the NICE class finder to confirm your classification.

What about renewal, assignment, and amendment forms?

DoI official forms are not just for first-time filings. Renewal under Sec. 23B of the PDTA 1965 requires its own prescribed form, filed within 35 days of the registration expiry. If you miss that window, a late renewal form with the penalty applies for up to six months — after which the registration is automatically cancelled. Assignment of ownership uses a separate prescribed form backed by a notarised assignment deed. Amendments to the application or the certificate also have dedicated forms. The full suite is managed through the same DoI office that handles initial registrations. For a quick check on when your renewal is due, our renewal calculator will give you the date.

A realistic example: getting the forms right for a Kathmandu café

Imagine a café in Jhamsikhel called "Yeti Brew" that wants to protect its name and logo. The owner needs a Schedule 1(c) form for Class 43 (restaurant and café services). She also plans to sell packaged coffee beans, so she files a second Schedule 1(c) for Class 30 (coffee). That is two applications, two sets of four mark specimens, two notarised PoAs — each with two witness signatures. She attaches her company's board resolution, industry certificate, and latest tax clearance. The DoI examines both files, publishes them in the Industrial Property Bulletin, and after a clean 90-day opposition period, issues two Schedule 2(c) registration certificates. Seven years later, she renews both through the prescribed renewal forms. No shortcuts, but no surprises either — because the paperwork was right the first time.

How do the DoI forms connect to the broader registration timeline?

The forms are the engine of the whole registration process. File the right Schedule form with complete documents, and your timeline is roughly 12 to 14 months from application to certificate — assuming no opposition. Cut corners on the paperwork, and that timeline stretches. The steps that follow the forms — DoI examination, publication, the 90-day opposition window — all depend on the application being administratively complete. For a fuller picture of how the whole sequence works, read our step-by-step trademark registration guide.

In short

DoI official forms are the foundation of every IP filing in Nepal. The Schedule 1(c) for trademarks, Schedule 3(a) for patents, and Schedule 3(b) for designs — each backed by a correctly notarised Power of Attorney with two witnesses — determine whether your application moves or stalls. Get the form right, and you protect your first-to-file priority date. Get it wrong, and you lose time you cannot recover. If you would like help preparing or reviewing your DoI forms, start with a trademark search to check for conflicts, then reach out to our team — we will make sure your paperwork is DoI-ready before it goes in.

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